Fictional Manager Backgrounds

John Flynn	

John Flynn is a manager who first saw the professionals play when the vaunted Cincinnati Reds took on the Troy Haymakers in their memorable 1869 season.  He was impressed with the cool demeanor of the team as opposed to the more rowdy Haymakers.  A player of meager talent, Flynn maintained his connection with baseball by managing teams at all levels.  The memories of the Reds stayed with him and the style of Harry Wright made a great impression upon him.

Flynn is a manager who believes that scoring runs is more important than preventing them.  He does not know advanced strategy or defensive plays but will always have his players run aggressively on the base paths.  Not as much as Harry Wright because he doesn't want to run into outs but he wants to keep pressure on the other team.  After observing the managing of Cal McVey, Flynn sees the value of having a pitcher who will take advantage of lefty/righty matchups.  Wants his pitchers to have stamina and will go with them as far as he can.

Flynn favors having young players in the lineup.  He would like them to have speed but will always prefer those who power the ball.  Pitchers are not as important overall than hitters so emphasis will be on getting players who are good with the stick.  

Tim "Hardnose" Webb	

Tim Webb is a hardscrabble manager who played ball as a kid and was quite good.  As a tough shortstop Webb saw that always pushing for a run fit his idea of the ideal way of playing baseball.  After being injured in a play at second against the Detroit Wolverines in an exhibition game Webb naturally gravitated to the managerial ranks.  His nickname is a nice play on words as it shows his mettle on the diamond as well as the fact that his nose was broken more than once during games.

Tim is a big believer in getting runs by using aggressive strategies such as the hit and run and steal.  He thinks these relatively new ways of playing the game will enable his teams to score runs more frequently.  Webb has an idea of having the runner move on the pitch but does not overly use it.  Distrusts relying on the big hit because of the greater likelihood of making outs that put no pressure on the opposing team.  Has come up with the idea of moving his infield closer to the plate on occasion to try and prevent runs.  Pitchers are supposed to throw lots of innings but Webb does put in a reliever if he feels the game is on the line.

He does not care about old versus young players as long as they do what he wants.  Defense is more important, on average, than offense so he likes speedy players and quality pitchers.  He tells his batters to be patient at the play so; consequently, they get more walks than other teams.

Pete Martin	

Martin has seen the titanic battles between the Orioles, Spiders, and Beaneaters and he is enamored of the way they play the game.  He really likes the idea of bunting for a hit as he thinks the opposing team is likely to commit errors.  Pete does not sacrifice often.  Using the hit and run is important but he is careful about stealing bases.  Wants all players to be alert and take the extra base if they can.  Plays it straight defensively.  He also prefers that the players who start the game finish the game.  Pitchers will get the slow hook.  When he does use relievers he will have little patience with them if they do not do the job.

He likes players who are younger and willing to learn the intricacies of the inside game of baseball.  Martin would rather have hitters than pitchers but wants them to have a good balance between their offensive and defensive skills.  Speed is paramount and he keeps a close eye on the batting averages of each player because, after all, a higher batting average means that player is getting more hits.  

Bill Eastman	

As a young college player Bill Eastman had the chance to see baseball from a perspective of one who plays it.  He quickly realized that those players who tried to smash the ball over the fence may have some luck occasionally but will frequently hit long outs which hurts the team.  Taking this philosophy to managing was a natural progression.  An admirer of the most successful managers in the big leagues, Bill takes some parts of one manager and some of another and makes what he considers to be his own trademark style.

Bill Eastman is a manager who is who perfect for the Deadball era.  He likes his teams to put pressure on the opposition and feels this is best done by making the other team react to his moves.  First priority is getting on base so his players will try and get on any way possible.  He likes to bunt for a hit and, once a player is on first, sacrifice him to second.  From there, stealing third is a preferred option.  Scoring is easier when you have a man on third with one out, or so Eastman figure's.  He likes the hit and run but not as much as his contemporaries.  Wants his pitchers to make the other team hit the ball so he prizes defense and a strong staff.  He does not like the intentional walk at all.  Inches his infield in to cut off runs.  Eastman doesn't want to pinch hit much as he expects his pitchers to give him a lot of innings.  If a reliever has to come in he will stick with him.  He doesn't want to waste arms.  As the game gets into the late innings he plays it a little closer to the vest.

Bill prefers veterans on his team as he feels that they know the game much better than rookies.  A team with good legs and strong arms is the one that will give him and his team the best shot at victory.

Sean O'Loughlin	

A minor league player of little note, Sean O'Loughlin kicked around for many years as an outfielder.  He was not a very good fielder but could swat the ball with the best of them.  Rumor has it that he participated in a game in 1910 against the great Leland Giants team where he and Grant "Home Run" Johnson both hit two tape measure home runs in the same game.  According to him this game showed him the advantage of power hitting even in an era with a dead ball.  He decided to buck the trend and managed teams with an emphasis on a different style of play.

Sean does not like to run so the steal and hit and run are rarely used.  He does prefer his runners to be more aggressive but not to the level of a McGraw or Chance.  Forget the sacrifice unless it is in the late innings and then he will use it only in tight games.  He tries to be a bit cagier with his pitchers in that he will have them pitch around more against a hot hitter.  O'Loughlin will pinch hit for his pitcher earlier than most of his contemporaries and has an average hook for both starters and relievers.  Doesn't care about lefty/righty matchups as he feels a pitcher should be able to get anyone out.

Sean does not like to have rookies on his squad.  He much prefers players who are knowledgeable about the game and who don't require extensive coaching.  Hitting is his priority and especially those with power.  Defense is neither neglected nor stressed.  O'Loughlin tries to get hitters who lean more towards having a higher average.

Jim "The Cutter" Lawrence	

In the days of yore few managers were like Jim Lawrence.  That he was tough and disagreeable is certain but he gained notoriety by the ultra-aggressive play of his teams.  It did not matter if the opposition were other black teams, white semi-pro squads, or white major league teams.  Lawrence had his teams run at all times in all situations.  Oddly, his teams were not overly fast but Lawrence had them going whether ten runs ahead or behind.  He did like hitters who will occasionally line one into the gap and pitchers who went deep into the game.  The latter because he said he didn't trust a pitcher who couldn't finish what he started.  On defense he had his players move closer to the first and third bases late in the game but he did not consider it any strategy.  Rather, he thought of it as a precaution.  How did he get his nickname?  Supposedly, while on a tour to Cuba he had a player deliberately spike a pitcher who was brushing back his players.  The rub?  The play happened at first after a drag bunt.  The team managed to escape the ball field unscathed but the name stuck.  

Run, run, and run some more is the mantra for a Lawrence team.  Hit and run will be used more than normal but the steal is the key as well as taking the extra base.  Prefers good hitters to fielders with an emphasis on power.  He will push his pitchers very hard.  Has a habit of pinch hitting only from the ninth inning on.  Tells his pitchers not intentionally walk anyone and to challenge the opposing hitters at all times.

Lawrence doesn't care if his players are veterans or prospects as long as they do what he wants.  All things considered, he wants his team to be made of hitters and speed merchants.  Pitchers with endurance are preferred to those who can only go a few innings.  Always will pick a guy with offensive skills over ones with defensive skills.

Lee Harris	

Lee Harris parlayed a successful career as a player into one as a manager.  Well-liked by everyone but possessing a steely resolve, Harris started managing in the 1920's and became a manger noted for his developing of young players.  He always believed that baseball was a game that required a middle of the road approach.  Lee tried to obtain players with all around skills and his way of managing reflected that to a large degree.  One thing that impressed Harris was the emergence of the power hitter.  The Yankees and Athletics particularly impressed him with their ability to go deep at any time.

The teams managed by Harris will always be on the lookout for run scoring opportunities with one swing of the bat.  But he will not neglect the running game.  While he does not like the hit and run, Harris wants his runners to look for the extra base.  He feels that the steal is not necessary because he wants the certainty of runners on base for a power hitter to rush in.  On defense his teams will guard the lines and pull the infield in quite a bit from the seventh inning on.  He doesn't pull the corners in at all as he does not fear the opposing teams bunting game.  Harris like to pinch run late in the game and will pinch hit for pitchers frequently.  Likes the starter to get into seventh at least but from there on he will pull him at the first sign of weakness.

Lee likes a team with as many talented prospects as possible.  He prefers hitters over pitchers but wants to strike a balance between his offense and defense.  However, a power hitter is always a plus for his teams.  Harris preaches patience at the plate always telling his team that getting on base is the priority.  

Tommy "The Bayou Thumper" St. Croix	

As the 1920's decade came to a close one manager seemed to epitomize the idea of scoring runs.  Tommy St. Croix first made his mark by giving an interview to The Sporting News and correspondent Fred Lieb where he decried "old time" baseball and said the future of the stolen base was dead.  "Why run when you can score with one swing of the bat", he said and to prove it his teams rarely stole, bunted, or employed any of the strategies of the earliest 20th century.  Players such as Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, and Honus Wagner severly criticized him but St. Croix never backed down.  He gave as good as he got and never would alter his style of managing.  Pitching was an afterthought but he saw the value of relief pitching.  He never had a hesitation about changing pitchers at any time because he figured that once they were getting hit they would not recover.  Tommy always brought the infield in during late innings situations where a run meant a victory but other than that he had his defense play conservatively.  St. Croix was a true original.

St. Croix makes power a priority.  He thinks that having a good hitter with lots of power will always produce runs.  Stealing and other such weapons do not figure in his game plan and he will not sacrifice or bunt for hits.  On defense St. Croix will bring the infield in but only late in the game.  He has told his pitchers to hold runners very, very close to keep games close against teams that have speed and base stealers.  He will pinch hit for position players and pitcher frequently but does not use pinch runners except on rare occasions.  Tommy has a quick hook except for early in the game and that goes for all pitchers.

Tommy doesn't care one way or the other about having veterans or younger players.  His preference is for those players who hit the ball a mile.  Speed is not an issue and defense, while not neglected, is not a priority.  Bottom line is hitting and the long ball.    

Carl Simmons	

Carl Simmons is a manager who bucks the trend of the long ball adherents of the lively ball era.  He was a smallish player who relied on his smarts to get ahead.  Speed and defense were his greatest assets.  His feeling that defense would always win out went against the grain of many of his contemporaries but he stuck to his guns.  The story goes that when asked if Jimmy Foxx could play for him he said, "No, because he is too big".  Not many believe the story but Simmons never denied it.  

Carl is a manager who likes to work with younger players that have a good basis in the fundamentals of the game.  He will hit and run and steal but does not sacrifice much.  Likes his player to try and bunt for a hit.  He plays tight defense and uses all of those types of strategies.  Pitcher are expected to last deep into the game but Simmons gets very concerned in the ninth and extra innings and will quickly go to the bullpen.  Carl does play the percentages in lefty/righty matchups trying to gain every advantage.  He does not pinch run much but will pinch hit for position players and pitchers.

Simmons much prefers prospects.  They should have speed and good defensive skills.  He likes a good mix of offense and defense.  He wants his players to get their bat on the ball and put it in play to take advantage of the speedy players on his team.

Fred Marchand	

Early in the post war years the name Fred Marchand was synonymous with the home run.  Figuring that Babe Ruth was the ideal type of batter, Marchand constantly advocated for a lineup that centered around ballplayers who could hit the ball a mile.  From top to bottom, Marchand advocated power.  His thinking was summarized in an article in Baseball Digest where he said, "Sure, not everyone can be the Babe but if you have your guys swing hard then good things will happen.  If my leadoff guy hits a double and my cleanup guy hits it over the fence then you got two runs".  His career was not as successful as some but no one can doubt that his teams didn't do their best to fulfill his wishes.

Fred tells his players to put the brakes on when they reach base.  Stealing is just never done.  Runs aggressively, though, but does not hit and run very much.  The bunt is not a weapon in his arsenal.  He wants his pitchers to go at hitters at all times and to keep the other teams runners close to the base.  Like to have the corners in and, after observing Lou Boudreau, is a staunch advocate of having his infield shift as the occasion demands.  Marchand strikes an even balance on taking out both pitcher and relievers and does not care about lefty/righty matchups.  He won't pinch run and uses pinch hitters late in the game.

Fred Marchand wants veterans on his club as he values their experience and judgment.  He favor hitting over pitching as well as offense with an emphasis on power.  He likes to have his hitters wait on pitches so that they can either get a walk or capitalize on a mistake.

Steve Hicks	

Steve Hicks is a manager who cut his teeth by watching the great Yankees teams of the late 1930's and early 1940's.  He recalls seeing Dimaggio, Gehrig, Dickey, and the rest of those famous Bronx Bombers teams as they frequently came back from late inning deficits to win games.  What struck him was the balance of the teams, however.  He figures that keeping everything on an even keel will win games over the long haul.  

Hicks will let the game play out early with very little in terms of strategy being utilized.  Once he hits the seventh inning he starts to work.  Steals a little bit and uses the hit and run more often at that time.  His running game is conservative as well.  Likes to guard the lines and bring the infield in late in the game.  Steve wants starting pitchers to stay in and generally doesn't like to use relievers.  When he does he has little patience with them.  Tells his throwers to work very carefully to hitters but not to walk any intentionally.

Steve has no real preference when it comes to deciding on his roster.  Pitching, defense, speed are equally valued but he does like players who takes a walk to get on base.  If forced to choose he will ever so slightly go with prospects as opposed to veterans.

Larry Williams	

Although his playing career was ended by his service in World War II, Larry Williams had a burning desire to stay in the game and did so by managing.  He started in the lower leagues in the late 40's and that is where he developed his style of managing.  Known as a tough but fair manager, Williams brooked no nonsense on the field and his aggressive personality helped shape his style.  He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and he always relayed how his war service let him keep baseball in perspective.  After all, playing a game is nothing compared to the dangers he faced in the war.

Larry does not like the hit and run but will sacrifice bunt early and for a hit late.  He wants baserunners to be very aggressive but becomes more conservative later in the game.  His pitchers are told to pitch around the hot hitter when the game is on the line.  He directs his players to play in and closer to the line as the game goes on.  He will pinch hit for pitchers but not position players.  Williams has a quick hook for both starters and relievers.
Williams is pretty evenly disposed as to the makeup of his team.  He is slightly more predisposed to hitting and defense.  Larry prizes power a bit more than speed and really likes batters who hit for average.  Experienced players are a plus. 

Doug Chapman	

Doug Chapman's managerial style was rooted in the early 1960's when the Yankees had the M&M duo of Maris and Mantle.  Doug was impressed by the combination of power, defense, and pitching that brought the Yankees two World Series Championships and five pennants in the first half of the decade.  Reflecting on his way of managing Chapman told Dan Daniel in an interview that "I knew I couldn't duplicate what the Yankees had but I figured that I could try and piece together a squad that would have some of the elements of those great teams".  Unfortunately for Chapman the latter years of the 60's brought in an era of pitching so his star slowly faded.  But for a while Chapman and his teams were very successful.

Doug is not a big believer in having a strong running game.  His players will steal less than average and be more conservative on the base paths.  However, he will try the hit and run to keep out of the double play.  His teams don't sacrifice much and will not try and bunt for a hit.  On defense he wants his teams to play the infield in starting in the middle innings and guards the lines late in the game.  Chapman hates to have his pitchers pitch around batters but they will use the intentional walk a shade more than others.  He has an average hook for his starters but a quick one for his relievers.  He also likes to try and take advantage of batter/pitcher matchups.

For a Chapman team hitting and power will take priority over pitching and speed but not by much.  He likes his hitters to take walks to set up the big hit.  He also prefers veteran players because he values their knowledge of the game and what it takes to win.

Willie Garnett		

For years Willie Garnett figured that his time would never come.  Kicking around at the lower levels of baseball has a sobering effect on a manager, especially one whose ideas go against the grain.  Willie was a player of small stature but he had a big heart.  He practiced constantly and became an excellent defensive second baseman.  That lack of stick prowess kept him from going to the top but his baseball acumen allowed him to enter the managerial ranks.  As many managers do, he tried to form teams that reflected what he believed.  A tight defense with a strong staff was his mantra.  Just as he thought his time had passed he got his big break.  The end of the 1960's meant an increased emphasis on pitching and defense which were his fortes.  Finally, his time had come.

Willie's passion is for stopping the other team from scoring.  He knows he has to put runs on the board but doesn't figure that he will need that many of them.  He does not steal any more than anyone else but he loves the hit and run as he thinks it is the perfect catalyst for run production with the type of team he has.  Aggressive base running is encouraged as well.  He likes to sacrifice early in the game but not late.  Bunting for a hit is not a priority.  Plays the corners in with regularity but other than that hid defense shows nothing out of the ordinary.  Garnett likes to have his pitcher use every strategy that they can.  He wants them to hold baserunners closely at all times and use the intentional walk liberally from the seventh inning on.  He has them pitch around at that time also.  Willie tells the starters to try and get into the seventh at which time he will go to his relievers if needed.  Pinch hits late but not for position players.

Garnett is a believer in having a mix of prospects and veterans.  His preference for pitching and defense is absolute and he would rather have a guy with speed than one with power.  He tells his players to get their swings and hit the ball so they can put pressure on the defense.

Dave Cramer		

The 1970's were a turbulent time in baseball history.  There was free agency, artificial turf, designated hitters, cookie cutter stadiums, colorful uniforms and many other things that made the national pastime seem as if it has emerged from a deep sleep.  It also seemed that to be successful a team had to rely on speed or power.  Dave Cramer was one who came down on the side of power.  It was while watching a game that he decided how he wanted to approach managing.  "I remember watching a game in Chicago where Chuck Hiller hit a bloop single and Willie Mays came up and hit a 400 foot home run", he said.  "I remember thinking that it was a lot more fun to see Willie circling the bases and two runs going up on the board rather than some guy barely touching the ball and making it to first base".  Dave put that philosophy into action with his teams much to the enjoyment of fans everywhere.  There were a lot of 10-8 games when his teams played but he came out on top more often than not.

Dave's teams will sometimes steal a base and hit and run very little.  His players are aggressive once the ball is in play.  He will sacrifice early in the game on occasion but not use the bunt for anything else.  In the field, his teams will tighten up in the ninth inning but not before. 

He doesn't like to guard the lines at any time as he thinks too many singles get by the first and third basemen.  He wants his pitchers to hold runner close and challenge the opposing batters.  He really believes in pinch hitting for both position players and pitchers.  Cramer will stay with his starting pitchers if he can but once the seventh inning rolls around he is ready to go to the pen.  He is not an advocate of working lefty/righty matchups.

Cramer will always take a prospect over a veteran.  He goes with hitting over pitching but likes to strike a balance between offense and defense.  Power is something he wants in his hitters and he wants them to swing aggressively.

